When you are a new mom, many people will offer you advice, whether solicited or not. Everyone from your pediatrician to your mother in law to your babysitter will tell you how you should raise your child. It is up to you to determine if and how you will use the information.

Since you may be new to this baby care thing, you may be feeling insecure or unsure about your mothering. You may feel guilty or inadequate to care for your new baby. These are very normal emotions that all mothers feel at some time.

Some people of an “old school” philosophy may tell you that by picking up your baby when he cries, you are “spoiling” him. When someone tells you this, you can tell them that it is a medical fact that a baby can’t be spoiled. (A toddler is surely another story).

If your baby is crying, this is a signal that he needs something. It could be a diaper change, a feeding, or just a need to be held and nurtured. You should never be made to feel guilty for holding your child when he cries.

In fact, denying your child your touch and love can be harmful to his emotional development. Your child needs your love as often as he can get it. So the next time someone tells you that you’re spoiling your baby, you can tell them that you know what you’re doing. You’re being a good mother.

Do you want to be caught up on all the latest happenings with your baby? Join SmartMomma Advantage for free! You'll receive your choice of e-mail newsletters, from monthly updates on your baby's development to weekly sales alerts. Stay up to date with the SmartMomma advantage! Join today!

Related Articles

Baby Behavior: Separation Anxiety
Baby Behavior: Techniques to Stop Crying
Baby Behavior: Stranger Anxiety